CN: Tell me about your path from the amateur days to that pro contract with CSC.

FS: After finishing high school, I entered the Luxemburg military sports programme and could focus on cycling only. Then I had a difficult time in Italy, with De Nardi, where nothing seemed to turn out right. I changed to Festina as a stagiaire in 2001, but after that season they stopped, so that was disappointing, too. 2002 was my last year as an Under 23; I was with French Elite 2 team Chateauroux at the time and I said to myself that if I didn't succeed that year, I'd go back to school - I was fed up. It was hard also because the French pro teams looked down on me, saying, 'We have 50 guys like you so why should we take you?' But then Bjarne started to believe in me and took me on as a stagiaire the next year - and I think I convinced him that it wasn't a bad idea! It took a while before I could sign a deal, though, because Jan Ullrich was supposed to join the team. He would have taken the place of two or three riders, financially speaking. It's a pity not to have Jan on the team, but on the other hand, it was good luck for me!

CN: How did the link to CSC happen?

FS: Bjarne Riis and Kim Andersen were in the same club I started out with - ACC Contern in Luxemburg. The president, Marcel Gilles, was the one who made contact with Bjarne. Kim Kirchen, my brother and I are still in that club, so winning the Luxemburg championships was also another great moment for them. It's unfortunate that the Luxemburg media pay very little attention to it. We once had a great rider in the 50's and 60's, Charly Gaul, and I have the feeling that we're at that same level again now in Luxemburg, achieving great results. But the public still focuses on soccer, although we lost 0-4 to Liechtenstein in the qualifications for the World Cup! What's going on? Of course, soccer is the main sport, but it's still a pity the country doesn't know how good we cyclists are. Soccer always gets 8-14 pages in the newspaper, whereas reports on cycling get barely one.

CN: How come a Luxemburger ends up being a great climber, anyway? It's not that Luxemburg has any real mountains, it's more a classics terrain...

Looking comfortable
Photo ©: Sirotti 

FS: Since I was very young, my family went to the Côte d'Azur on holidays, so that's where we rode the longer climbs. But I didn't really train on the mountains specifically, even when I was in Italy. I guess it must be natural talent, and the fact that I haven't got any problems with my weight. On the other hand, my time trial capabilities aren't the best, but I'm working hard on that.

CN: It must be very motivating for you and your brother to race in the same squad. Is there sometimes a little rivalry, too?

FS: No, never. I'm happy about his results in the same way that he is about mine. It's great to be able to train and race together on the same team. Of course, he still has a lot to learn - he can be a bit chaotic, and he's still young…not that I would be that much older, mind you! I've still got a lot to learn as well, but sometimes I can give him some advice on this or that. He needs to find his own way, too - I'm sure that if he stops being so messy…[laughs] he can become a great rider.

CN: You said earlier that you're working on your time trialling now.

FS: Yes, together with Bjarne we already improved my position, but I certainly have a disadvantage because I'm tall, but light [Schleck measures 1.87m for a top form weight of 63-64kg]. So I need to work on my time trialling skills, but when I see Ivan Basso's progress - although I don't want to compare myself to him - I think I should be able to make some progress.

CN: So what are your career goals on the longer term, which way do you want to go?

Schleck gets out of the saddle
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini 

FS: I do feel more like a stage race rider than for one-day races. I feel good in stage races; once I've caught their rhythm I recover well. I rode the Giro and the Vuelta, and I came out of both races in good form. When I raced the Vuelta last year, I finished in tenth place at the World's in Verona.

CN: What would be your biggest dream, then?

FS: Of course, every rider dreams about the Tour de France. To finish top ten or top five at the Tour would be enormous. Next season, if everything turns out as planned and I'm not ill or injured or anything, I will ride the Tour for the first time, of course as a helper for Ivan Basso. I hope I can help him win the Tour, and I'm more than happy to put my own expectations aside for him. Ivan is a great teammate, a great person; he shows a lot of respect so my biggest goal for next year is to ride the Tour with him.

CN: Will you be able to shift your personal goals to the second half of the season?

FS: I'll try to race fast early in the season, too. Paris-Nice, like this year, and then the Belgian Classics. If I'm up front in Belgium, then that's good. After a break, I'll be preparing for the Tour de France, but not at the Tour de Suisse. After the Tour, the Deutschland Tour would be interesting again, and the final Pro Tour races, especially the Giro di Lombardia, my favourite.